Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-07-14
WILTON VS.. MEACHAM;
o The Romance ofthe ssGoldcn
NIcrcy" Mine.
by cHAs. A. DE WITT.

by CHAs. A. DE WITT.
"There is no use of talking, Nora, for I
will never consent to daughter of mine
marrying into that Meacham family. You
know my reasons for this. John Meachams
father was swindler, and cheated me out
Of $4,000 in that fine mining scheme of
his, and then ran through the whole of it,
leaving his family paupers. John
Meacham is chip off the old block, and
won't hear of your marrying him. have
far different fate in store for you than
becoming the wife of rascal's son."
"Father, you know that John Meacham
is not to blame for any thing his father may
is no just reason for you 10 condemn his
son."
"Unfortunate," snorted Col. Wilton,
unfortunate indeed Why, tell you, girl,
John Meacham's father was rogue-a
swindler. lie knew The sGolden Mercy"
mine was worthless when he persuaded me
to invest in it. Unfortunate, bah!"
Well, call it what you may, John is not
in fault, and he has never before had q
word said against him." replied Nora.
No." said the Colonel, reluctantly, "I
don't know as he has, but he has Meacham
blood in his veins, and will be sure to turn
out bad"
Father, you are trying 10 prejudice
yourself against John Meacham because
you disliked his father. But I love him,
father, and / will marry him."
"Oh, you will, will you? Then 1 tell you
what Nora Wilton. If you marry John
Meacham you will do so against my will,
and from the day you are made his wife
you are no longer a daughter of mine, and
Col. George Wilton left the room, closing
the door SO abruptly as to give his daughter
no chance to reply.
Nora Wilton was picture to look at, as
she stood in the center of the apartment, in
q defiant attitude, her cheeks flushed and
her eyes sparkling with excitement, while
her brown curls hung in confusion over her
well-rounded shoulders.
She was, as Col. Wilton had said of John
Meacham, "a chip off the old block, y. and
inherited from her father passionate.
fiery temperament, together with a degree
of obstinacy in matters appertaining to her
own pleasure-in fact, she possessed this
characteristic in so great a degree that her
disagreements with the Colonel almost in
variably ended in her gaining her point
and doing as she pleased.
But in this matter the Colonel was firm.
Girard Meacham, Johns father, had been
a mining speculator, and as such had made
o large amount of money. Butnot satisfied
with his already acquired competency he
became deeply interest in the aGolden
Mercy" new mine that had been opened
up, and he invested the whole Of his cnpital
in the speculation. But before the mine
could be made a success, more money was
required, and he had persuaded his friend,
Col. Wilton, to invest the needed amount,
$4,000, in the work. The result was, the
clared, md the finale came when the enter
prise fell flat and the aGolden Mercy was
declared failure. Girard Mencham was a
beggar, while Col. Wilton's $4,000 went
with the rest.
This sudden relapse from fortune to
beegary was too much of shock to n con-
stitution debilitated by the constant strain
upon natures forces consequent upon long
hours Of toll and active brcin work, and
Girard Meacham died, leaving wife and
one boy, John, almost penniless. Ellen
Meacham was n woman of more than ordi-
nary intellect and education, and she con-
triyed to rear and educate her boy. When
this was accomplished she, too, passed
away.
Thus we find John Meacham, at the age
of %, possessed of but little worldly goods,
but enjoying sound health and brave
heart and q determined purpose, and
among the people ut large, an honorable
name. By the majority it was held thai
the faults OF the father were more than re-
trieved by the integrity Of the son, and the
past was as a sealed book to all but Col
Wilton, who remembered most forcibly his
pecuniary loss when reminded that his
daughter loved Girard Meacham's son.
Johu Meacham had always contendet
that he should one day retrieve the faller
fortunes and the honor of his house, anc
remove the one shadow from his father
Tow ~ to s.h;aa. npp1 ,i;p 1oasu ~, -
~. ~. , ~ nis NV .oi ms o"et
San ~ ros.as;ns. M $50. :. liz, -. n.on NV =, soni.
hsan ,os, y, h;a fa.a.,s ! 81, ..''s n''. m
WAS mat with tle arnff rssnanse. ~ ~
aynn bad bs,tor ua;t nnt;I rnr oot so,,,o
thing to restore with before You make ap,
tar sir and I te,, Won onca %, -, Tma,
nothing - do with Won '''
Jobn a,nostnlo,e5 h,t Tho co,ono, NO,
obdrrota and ba ,en ,ha honso ,,;.,, w. y,
heart fllad with = tnmn,t - nonaiat;n, m
emotions. when bnt a lttlo wav from ~,
residence Of Col. Wilton he met Nora oni
informed her Of the result of bis interyiey